Week ending April 28th...

Still no corn planted.  And the temperatures and rainfall continue to delay our planting progress.  The 10 acres of "practice" corn we planted on April 5th has now emerged, although it is extremely yellow and the stand is sporadic.  We have caught up on most jobs and are now working on jobs we would normally work on during the summer. 

The forecast doesn't look promising and we are planning our next move to get corn in the ground quickly when the weather finally allows.  The prevent planting date for our area is June 5th which is still a month away, but we will need some very warm temperatures for extended periods of time to get our corn planted before the deadline.

Our "practice" corn has emerged - although it's very yellow. 

Picking up the old fence we tore out on our Greenfield farm.  Thanks to our neighbors Mark Twitchell and JL Ford for the use of the skid steer.

Elizabeth & Owen after they ran the Christie Clinic Illinois Kids Marathon.

 

 

Week ending April 20th...

Rainy, wet and cold can easily describe how the last two weeks have been.  There has been zero additional corn planted in our area and 100% of our corn remains in the bag waiting to be planted.  Last week we received 3" of rain, but we feel fortunate as areas to our West and North had upwards of 6-8" of rain.  We even had a light snow shower on Saturday morning just to remind us that Mother Nature isn't yet ready for spring.  The forecast is calling for a 70% chance of another 1-1.5" of rain on Tuesday which should solidify no corn planting at all in the month of April. 

Meanwhile we continue to work on projects like switching out the tires on the planter tractor and retrofitting one of our semis with a wet-kit.  We have also gotten the combine out and are working on taking our add-on equipment off it and getting it ready to head back over to Cross Brothers in Mount Pulaski where they will clean it up and deliver it to the next owner.  Hopefully, this week the weather will be a little warmer and we can start to find morel mushrooms in the woods - those are a spring delicacy...

Adding ultra narrow tires to the planter tractor to ensure they will roll between the 20" rows 

Splitting one of the fuel tanks on the semi so we can add a wet kit 

The boys and I at Memorial Stadium for the Illini Football Team's Open House

Week ending April 6th...

Planting season is upon us - finally.  Towards the end of the week the weather turned warmer and dried a few fields out enough to allow us to work with the field cultivator.  On Friday we were able to get the new planter in the field and work the bugs out.  Thank you to Brad Bishop and Matt Aper from Cross Bros. for coming over and helping us.  We did not plant much though because the forecast is calling for significant rain totals and colder temperatures in the coming week.  Very little field work was completed in our area this past week as the ground in most places is still damp to wet 2-4" underneath the dry surface.  Saturday's 30-40 mph winds helped dry a lot of those fields however.  I imagine that if Sunday's rain does not amount to much, we will see a few neighbors begin planting their 2013 corn crop. 

This past week David also got the seed trailer put together and when the weather straightens out we are ready to begin planting in earnest.  We also worked on a few last minute spring jobs such as changing filters on the fuel tank pumps and trimming some trees that have over-grown into the field edges. 

The new planter finally makes it to the field 

Making the final pass before the planter - the tile is working great 

 Spreading urea and ESN for our National Corn Growers yield contest entry

The boys in their Easter clothes - ties are a very rare occurrence with these two...

Easter...

12-18 inches of snow a week ago and now 60 degrees on Easter.  Isn't the weather in Central Illinois interesting?  Mostly a week of watching the snow melt and working inside on the spring equipment.  A few more trees were cut and burned along with lots of winter fun sledding in the snow.  On Friday the weather was much warmer which allowed us to deliver some seed corn to customers who are thinking planting season may soon be approaching. 

The forecast is calling for high's in the upper 50's and lower 60's towards the weekend which I believe will cause some field cultivators to hit the fields this week.  If the forecasts don't change, I think we will see a few try planting some corn the week of April 8th...

Enjoying the fresh snow sledding 

Snow planter 

Biggest snow we have received in years 

David shining up the planter tractor 

Remember dying Easter eggs....?

Week ending March 23rd...

Spring is here...only according to the calendar.  It may officially be spring, but the weather outside says it's still winter.  As I type, we are experiencing our heaviest snow storm of the winter with 8" already on the ground and more yet to come.  Yesterday it was in the mid 50's and the ground was just getting dry enough to think about working with the field cultivator.  Despite the snow, the promise of spring planting appears to be near as the 10 day forecast finally has a day or two in it with 60 degree temperatures.  Although most in our area believe it will be April 15th or 20th before the ground is warm enough to plant.

This past week we wrapped up work on our new planter and moved it outside.  We calibrated the Force CS system, checked for leaks and got it set up in our JD 2630 display.  We also began work on re-spacing the front duals on the planter tractor, changing the oil and cleaning it up after it was in the mud all winter working with the grain cart.  We also spent a little time burning off road ditches and waterways along with trimming trees along field borders.  It was also a good opportunity to check the usual spots for newly unearthed rocks, bricks, etc. that show themselves after fall tillage and winter weather. 

Calibrating the Force CS system and checking for leaks 

Configuring the front duals on the planter tractor to accommodate 20" rows 

A good time of year to find obstacles Mother Nature has uncovered over the winter 

The new owner of our 1st strip-till bar and dry cart came to pick up his new purchase.  We still have the 10 ton poly dry cart for sale - $47,500.

http://www.jennersales.com/equipment/used-equipment

Select "air-seeders"

Week ending March 16th...

No corn planting here.  Winter continues to blanket our area with cold temperatures and the occasional snow flakes.  Last year at this time we had applied the last of our anhydrous ammonia and a few of our neighbors had even planted some corn.  A year ago the high temperatures were in the 80's.  The recent 10 day forecast doesn't show any day time highs above 50 degrees, so we continue to get machinery ready and take delivery of the last of our seed corn. 

We have all but wrapped up hauling corn to the elevator from our bins until the markets respond with better prices.  Recent rains have replenished our soils and all of our tiles are running.  There is a little wiring left to be done on the planter and a few calibrations, but otherwise we are ready to pull the planter out of the shop.  Crop insurance decisions have been made and we are ready to get started on the 2013 growing season. 

Installing the Force CS insecticide system

In order to plant 20" rows, we had to widen the tires out on the planter tractor



David washing off the truck and trailer

Loading the semi for another trip to the CG&B at Naples

 

Work continues on the planter; adding the starter fertilizer system and liquid Force.  Last year at this time we were applying spring anhydrous ammonia...  Farmers over in Western IL even started planting March 7th. 2012.  Don't believe that will happen this year as we have a small amount of snow on the ground and the temperatures remain cold. 
 

 David has the starter tank mounted and planter plumbed with hoses

 

 A little early, but our new head cart trailers have already arrived.  Guess we will use these in six months...

 

Time to upgrade the office safe.  Notice the machine underneath the gun safe.  This machine allowed two guys to take this 750# safe down the basement stairs with ease. 

Owen and Max and their snowman earlier in the week